Footprints and Handprints of Hollywood Stars and Starlets - Review of TCL Chinese Theatres, Los Angeles, CA - TripAdvisor “Footprints and Handprints of Hollywood Stars and Starlets” Reviewed May 31, 2012 The Grauman"s Chinese has become part of my personal history. Originally. my attraction was to the Hollywood Stars Footprints and Handprints in the entryway. My parents would always include the Grauman as part of a trip around Los Angeles when family members visited from out of town. I do the same today when family members or friends visit from out of town. In addition, over the years I have attended the Grauman Chinese Theater to see "The Westside Story" during my freshman year in college and the openings of several James Bond movies back when James Bond was portrayed by Sean Connery and the opening day was Thanksgiving Day for about 3 years in a row. The Grauman Chinese Theater now brings back memories. Visited April 2012 Roy Rogers' & William Hart's six-guns, ice skater Sonja Henie's blades, and comedian George Burn's ever-present cigar. There's even an imprint of comic Joe E. Brown's big mouth.

And in 1995, Whoopi Goldberg clipped off her braids with a pair of scissors and immortalized her famous locks in the wet cement! Some of the stars' autographs can be entertaining as well - Clint Eastwood signed "You made my day!"; Sly Stallone wrote "Keep punchin', America!," and Arnold Schwarzenegger scribbled "I'll be back!" next to the imprint of his size-12 boots. Movie tough-guy Humphrey Bogart wrote "May you never die until I kill you!." Two legendary sex-symbols, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, put their prints in the cement on the same day, and wrote across the top of both squares: "Gentlemen prefer blondes!" Marilyn dotted the "i" in her first name with a large rhinestone (but the gem was later chiseled out of the cement by an overzealous tourist). It is said that Marilyn proposed putting her bottom in the cement, and suggested that Jane Russell immortalize her famous top there as well, but neither one was allowed...

Harpo Marx is one of only two adult stars not to wear shoes (the other is Sean Connery); Harpo also sketched a small harp next to the impression of his bare feet. And ventriloquist Edgar Bergen drew a quick caricature of his friend, "Charlie McCarthy," in the wet cement - complete with monocle and top hat. Many of these celebrity autographs mention "Sid." If you wonder just who this "Sid" was, wonder no more. He was none other than the legendary Sid Grauman, the man who built the Chinese Theatre (and the Egyptian ), who invented the idea of the grand movie premiere, and who also came up with the gimmick of putting the stars' footprints in cement (beginning back in 1927 with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Norma Talmadge.) The forecourt is open free of charge to all visitors. You do not have to buy a ticket to a movie at the theatre to view its famous forecourt. Click here to see a map of the forecourt for the exact locations of all the stars' footprints. Click here for more information about how to see the stars in person as they get their footprints immortalized in cement.

Click here for information about the interior of the theatre. Click here to buy books about the Chinese Theatre. Parking: There is a large (paid) parking garage at the adjacent Hollywood & Highland center. And free parking can sometimes be found on the residential streets south of the Roosevelt Hotel. Getting there: The Chinese Theatre is located at the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive, just west of Highland Avenue. The theatre's renowned forecourt is right in front of the theatre, and is open free of charge to visitors. / From Hollywood and Vine, just drive west on Hollywood Boulevard (less than a mile) to just past Highland Avenue (and just before Orange Drive). The theatre will be on your right (north) side. You can't miss it. /From the Hollywood (101) Freeway, take the Hollywood Boulevard exit, then go west on Hollywood Boulevard a mile and a half, to just past Highland. [To see a complete list of the dates of the foot & handprint ceremonies at the forecourt, you can access the theatre's official website at: .] Looking for something in particular? Search the Seeing-Stars website!

Click Here to Return to the Main Menu Copyright � 2017-Gary Wayne All Rights Reserved This webpage is not associated with any business described in the article above, and does not constitute an endorsement of this or any other business. The photos of celebrities on this page also do not constitute endorsements by them of any kind, and are used by the author solely to illustrate this online article. Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Sunseeker Tours - Sightseeing - Hollywood, Los Angeles Ports of LA/Long Beach and Harbor Bridges Grauman's Chinese Theater With pagodas, temple bells and stone Heaven Dogs imported from China, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was a wonder when it opened in 1927 – and this recently restored giant red pagoda with a huge green dragon remains so today. Millions of visitors have come to this Hollywood landmark to marvel at its architecture and décor, see a movie and explore the exterior Forecourt of the Stars, where almost 200 megastars have left their footprints for the enjoyment of their millions of fans. Look closely at the opening scenes of the 1952 Gene Kelly classic, Singing in the Rain, and you will see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

And do you remember the episode of I Love Lucy when Lucille Ball stole the cement block with John Wayne’s footprints from the Forecourt of the Stars? Though we will not go inside this legendary movie theatre, we stop to give you plenty of time to explore the stars’ footprints. See if you can find: The titans of classic Hollywood – among them Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, and Sophia Loren Today’s mega stars – some of them are Richard Gere, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Nicolas Cage and the three young wizards from the Harry Potter movies Someone who left the imprint of a fist, and another who left an impression of her famous legs? Three horses, two cigars and a current top star’s hair? Three barefoot stars? Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante both made plenty of jokes about this prominent bit of anatomy – and both left impressions of their own at Grauman’s Forecourt. It’s not a hand or a foot – what is it? Do you know?* Who were the very first stars to leave their footprints in the Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre? Who has left the smallest footprint?

(Hint—there are two; one an adult, the other a child star). And who has left the largest? In a recent movie, a gorilla climbs up the side of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Name the movie. The Story Behind Grauman's Chinese Theater - LA Insider Tours - Los Angeles Private Tours : LA Insider Tours — Los Angeles Private Tours The Story Behind Grauman’s Chinese Theater Since 1927, Grauman’s Chinese Theater (now known as TCL Chinese Theater after the naming rights were sold to a Chinese corporation) has been THE spot for Hollywood’s biggest premieres. It’s also a must see for any trip to Los Angeles, and it features on almost all of our Los Angeles Tours . There have only been about 175 star prints made so far, and the remaining empty space in the theatre’s small forecourt is scarce – so the honor is has normally been reserved solely for true Hollywood superstars. However, under new ownership the theater has liberalized its selectivity and in 2011 had 11 imprinting ceremonies, the most since its first year in 1927 when 9 stars were enshrined.

This has raised some concern as the likes of Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, and a French DJ have been honored in ceremonies in the famous forecourt. It is unclear how many of these will ever be installed in the actual forecourt, however, as one of the owners has stated that the minor ceremonies are not really installations but merely mock ceremonies, and that they will never really be installed in the forecourt. Eddie Murphy, Tom Cruise, Michael Keaton, Mel Gibson received the honor of placing their hands and feet in the famous wet cement. So did directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, along with the “Star Wars” characters of Darth Vader, R2D2 and C-3PO. In July of 2007, the three young stars of the “Harry Potter” movies (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint) placed their hand, foot and wand-prints in the wet cement. In November 2011, the three main stars of the Twilight saga were similarly enshrined. The prints of Taylor Lautner, Kristin Stewart, and Robert Pattinson are a real hit with our younger travelers. Hand and footprints of the Twilight stars at the Chinese Theater.

More than 2 million visitors a year. As hokey as it sounds, searching for your favorite star’s autograph – from among the 200+, multicolored blocks in the cement courtyard – is genuinely fun. Tourists can’t seem to resist comparing their shoe size to the stars’ footprints. Few can match the smallest adult footprint in the forecourt, which belongs to Jeanette MacDonald. It measures just 6 1/2 inches. Even smaller are the barefoot, childhood footprints of Shirley Temple. The grand opening of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on May 18, 1927, was the most spectacular theatre opening in motion picture history. Thousands of people lined Hollywood Boulevard and a riot broke out as fans tried to catch a glimpse of the movie stars and other celebrities as they arrived for the opening. The film being premiered that night was Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings,” which was preceded by “Glories of the Scriptures,” a live prologue devised by master showman Sid Grauman. A Wurlitzer organ and 65-piece orchestra provided music for the prologue.

The theatre opened to the public the following day, May 19, 1927. Grauman’s Chinese Theater in 1927 Previously, Grauman built the Million Dollar Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and the lavish Egyptian Theatre a few blocks from the Chinese, but he wanted to build his dream theatre. Built at a cost of $2,000,000 1927 dollars. Grauman believed that the theater itself should be as beautiful as the films shown inside. Furthermore, he had the vision to recognize that film would be the primary entertainment medium of the future, and built his theaters to reflect his vision. Other theaters of the day possessed a stage for live performances with a screen to show films; Grauman did away with the stage and built theaters with movie screens only. Authorization had to be obtained from the U.S. government to import temple bells, pagodas, stone Heaven Dogs and other artifacts from China. Poet and film director Moon Quon came from China, and under his supervision Chinese artisans created many pieces of statuary in the work area that eventually became the Forecourt of the Stars. Most of these pieces still decorate the ornate interior of the theatre today.

Protected by its 40-foot high curved walls and copper-topped turrets, the theatre’s legendary forecourt serves as an oasis to the stars of yesterday and today. Ten-foot tall lotus-shaped fountains and intricate artistry flank the footprints of some of Hollywood’s most elite. The theatre rises 90-feet high and two gigantic coral red columns topped by wrought iron masks hold aloft the bronze roof. Between the columns is a 30-foot high dragon carved from stone. Guarding the theatre entrance to this day are the two original giant Heaven Dogs brought from China. Grauman never owned the theatre outright, but held a one-third interest with his partners, Howard Schenck, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Grauman sold his share to Fox West Coast Theatres in 1929 and was the Managing Director of the theatre until his death in 1950. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is the most sought-after theatre in Hollywood for studio premieres. Fans flock to these events to see the celebrities arrive and walk up the red carpet into the theatre.

The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968, and there has always been a restoration program in process to maintain the theatre’s beauty. Following the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, geological experts were brought in to inspect the theatre and advise the owners with regard to protecting and strengthening the entire structure. Several earthquake retrofits were required to protect the structure and ensure its permanence. With this facelift, the Chinese Theatre will continue to be the preferred location for the industry’s most prestigious premieres for years to come. “Don’t Hesitate….Just Do It!!” The tour was a lot of fun and he even took us to less well known spots for some great photo ops! Definitely recommend doing and would absolutely do another tour with these guys when next back in LA! ~ Kelly T “Perfect fit for our family!” Our tour was AMAZING. This is one of the most professional companies I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I would recommend them in a heartbeat.

~ Michele G, El Segundo, California “LOOK NO FURTHER” I can recall doing a bus tour of LA a number of years ago, and that tour did not remotely compare to what we experienced with our number one guide Rivers. Our family of four, including two boys aged 13 and 10, had the best day possible. ~ Lindsay O, Hepburn Springs, Australia “Worth the Splurge” Eight hours seems like a lot of time, but the day just flew by. It was so fun and interesting. I would do this again with no regrets. The Kozars, Lethbridge, Canada “Great family day” A big thank you to Scott for our fantastic LA tour!! We got all the sights in, in one day including a last minute shop @ Dash!! Scott was full of information and my family including my 3 year old had a fantastic day!! Highly recommend !!

~ Nicole9Aust TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre - The Most Visited Site in Hollywood TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd ., Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 464-8111 for show times Metro: Red Line to Hollywood and Highland Parking: at Hollywood and Highland shopping and entertainment complex, $2 for 4 hours with validation or metered street parking on side streets. Beware of designated tour bus parking. Tours: VIP Tours are offered daily. Call 323-463-9576 for prices and tour times, or email tours@chinesetheatres.com . Website: Whether you know it as TCL, Grauman's or Mann's, no trip to Hollywood is complete without a visit to the Chinese Theatre to step into the footprints of the stars. It's one of the Top Free Things to Do in LA and Most Photographed LA Landmarks , along with the Hollywood Walk of Fame that runs in front of the theatre. The tradition started when the palatial Asian-inspired cinema was under construction. Owner Sid Grauman accidentally stepped into a freshly paved sidewalk.

continue reading below our video Things to Do Near Grauman's This inspired him to invite film stars Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Norma Talmadge to provide the first celebrity footprints on opening day in 1927, initiating the now famous Forecourt of the Stars. Since then over 200 celebrities have had their footprints, hand prints and hoof prints immortalized in front of this Hollywood landmark. Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Sydney Poitier are perennial favorites. Vin Diesel, Vince Vaughan, Melissa McCarhy, Ben Stiller, Tom Hanks , Robert DeNiro, Denzel Washington and Adam Sandler are relative new kids on the block. The Chinese is considered by many to be the most spectacular cinema ever built. At the time, Sid Grauman needed special government permission to import the pagodas, stone Heaven Dogs and temple bells from China. The building, which received historic-cultural landmark status in 1968, got a facelift when the Hollywood & Highland shopping and entertainment complex was built next door. TCL, Grauman's or Mann's The cinema was operated for many years by Mann Theatres.

Angelenos resisted the name change to Mann's Chinese Theatre and continued to refer to it as Grauman's, so in 2001, they officially reinstated the name Grauman's, which once again adorns the historic landmark. However, in January 2013, TCL, an electronics company in China, bought the naming rights to change it to TCL Chinese Theatre, including for the cinema operations. So on the website, it's now TCL. Locals, including some people in the media, are once again resisting the change, still calling it Grauman's or referring to it simply as The Chinese Theatre or the Hollywood Chinese Theatre. The Chinese Theatre is a popular location for Hollywood Movie Premieres. You can check the Premiere Schedule on their website. You can't buy tickets to premieres, but you can line up with other fans to get a glimpse of the stars on the red carpet or you can watch from the comfort of your home via the Forecourt webcam. See a Movie Movies run all day in the upstairs TCL Theatres, including an IMAX screen, accessible from inside Hollywood & Highland Centers, but the opulent main theatre that opens onto Hollywood Blvd is generally used only for premieres and special events.

Take a Tour Tours are available all day, every half hour as long as no other events are scheduled. Call the number above to confirm tour availability. Nearby Right in front of the theatre is the Hollywood Walk of Fame . The Dolby Theatre is right next door to the east and in 2009, Madame Tussauds wax museum opened adjacent to the Chinese Theatre on the west side. El Capitan Theatre , Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store and the Disney Entertainment Center where Jimmy Kimmel is taped are across the street. Hollywood, stars, handprints .... must see - Review of TCL Chinese Theatres, Los Angeles, CA - TripAdvisor Review of TCL Chinese Theatres 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028-6103 (Hollywood) +1 323-464-8111 TCL Chinese Theatre VIP Tour See more tours on Viator Fee: No Recommended length of visit: <1 hour Owner description: Walk in the steps of the Tinseltown's stars: visit the theater's famous forecourt and gaze down at the stars' footprints, handprints and autographs immortalized in cement.

Useful Information: Wheelchair access “Hollywood, stars, handprints .... must see” Reviewed August 29, 2013 I've visited Grauman's Chinese Theatre on the last couple of LA trips. It is crowded with tourists, shops and street entertainers dressed as movie characters, i.e: Michael Jackson, Bumble Bee (from Transformers), the scary ghost from Scream, etc, etc, etc. Always fun and entertaining. Just seeing all the actors, entertainers and directors names immortalized on the sidewalk Hollywood stars is amazing. Great place for photos and be absorbed in a must see LA attraction. Visited August 2013 Ask German F about TCL Chinese Theatres This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. 2,372 reviews from our community Visitor rating “Cool Attraction” Reviewed August 29, 2013 I mean, one can not come to LA and not visit this place. It was very crowded and there were a lot of weirdos out and about, but it was still a really cool experience. To see the names on the walk of fame and all of the famous signatures, was awesome. A must see!

Visited August 2013 Ask LoloMichelle72 about TCL Chinese Theatres This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Vickie W “Fun in LaLaland!” Reviewed August 28, 2013 One of the quintessential tourist must-sees. Yes, it's overrun with other tourists too. But...if you love the Hollywood star thing then you gotta see the hand and footprints of famous stars, present and past. Find your favorite, step into their footprints, compare your hand size. Soooo cheesy and sooo fun. Do it! Visited July 2013 Ask Vickie W about TCL Chinese Theatres This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. mrsladylee “great experience” Reviewed August 25, 2013 It was fun to see so many hands and foot prints of the stars. It was nice to really be there in person and see.

Very crowded attraction, wish had gone earlier in the day to be with less pl Visited August 2013 Ask mrsladylee about TCL Chinese Theatres This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Ted O “The top movie legends immortalized in stone.” Reviewed August 25, 2013 Be prepared for some tourist crowds and all that accompanies them unless you visit early in the morning or later at night. No, your not required to pay the costumed characters (un-affiliated with the theater) even if you take a photo with them. It's great fun to place your feet into Gary Cooper's or Humphry Bogart's footprints. This place has a truly amazing collection of movie legends. If your a classic film buff you need to see what came to pass after Mary Pickford accidentally stepped into cement when visiting the Chinese theater. I've been many times and love to revisit Marilyn Monroe, Tom Hanks, Joan Crawford, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra etc. Great fun to read all the messages scrawled over the decades. Disregard the negative reviews here. Complaining tourists hungry for their next sensation.

Visited September 2012 At Grauman's - Page 1 - Hollywood Star Walk - Los Angeles Times Hollywood Star Walk ADVERTISEMENT At Grauman's Ground broke for the historic Chinese Theatre in January 1926, with silent screen legend Norma Talmadge turning the dirt with a shovel presented by actress Anna May Wong . The tradition of the stars leaving their impressions in the theater's forecourt began the following spring, when Sid Grauman asked his friends Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to leave their hand and footprints in wet concrete. Pickford and Fairbanks — Hollywood royalty who held court at their Beverly Hills estate known as Pickfair — were also part owners of the new $2 million theater, along with Grauman and Joseph Schenck , then head of United Artists. Eight days after the first "footprint" ceremony, the opulent theater opened to great fanfare with the premiere of Cecil B.

DeMille's "The King of Kings." The day of the celebration The Times reported that "every star and personage of pretensions in this part of the country will be numbered in the audience." In the more than eight decades since, a select number of big stars — about 200 in all — have left imprints in the forecourt. Although the vast majority of entertainers found at Grauman’s also have been honored on the Walk of Fame, there are a number of notable exceptions. Among the starless stars: Warren Beatty, Jim Carrey, Sean Connery, Jeanne Crain, Michael Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Michael Keaton, Ali McGraw, Hayley Mills, Marcello Mastroianni, Al Pacino, Steven Segal, Peter Sellers, Jean Simmons, Denzel Washington and Oskar Werner. — Megan Garvey, who is the editor of The Times' Hollywood Walk of Fame project If you do not see the person you are looking for below please search our complete list of the stars on the Walk of Fame . And, if you haven’t yet, check out The Times virtual tour of the stars .

Here's a look at the entertainers honored both at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Grauman's Chinese: Movie star prints' futures not set in cement - latimes YOU ARE HERE: LAT Home → Collections → 72h Grauman's Chinese: Movie star prints' futures not set in cement Grauman's Chinese Theatre's new owners have increased cement print ceremonies, but some new squares may not be placed in the forecourt; old ones may be removed. December 29, 2011 |By Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times Commemorating their movie hit "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds" in… (Los Angeles Times ) Grauman's Chinese Theatre is hallowed Hollywood tourist ground, the famed site where silver-screen stars such as Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra literally cemented their legends by making hand- and footprints in concrete. On a recent November morning, those movie icons were joined by three gigantic rodents: Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Or, more precisely, as Alvin, Simon and Theodore are cartoon characters, by three anonymous guys in chipmunk suits who stuck their "paws" in wet cement while their squeaky, high-pitched version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" blared over the sound system. Some of the goop stuck to Theodore's belly fur. The pace of paw and other print-making at Grauman's has taken off in recent months. The complex has hosted 11 ceremonies so far this year for actors including Robert Duvall, Jennifer Aniston, Mickey Rourke and the young cast of the "Twilight" movies — Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart. Kobe Bryant, French DJ David Guetta and the Smurfs also have dipped their digits in cement. That's the largest number of ceremonies the theater has held since its opening in 1927, when nine individuals put their prints in cement. The influx has raised concern among some film buffs, who believe that Lautner's cinematic oeuvre doesn't exactly compare to, say, John Barrymore's or Jack Nicholson's.

And with limited space available in the forecourt, some say the theater owners should be pickier about who they allow into the landmark. Donald Kushner, a movie producer who bought the legendary theater with entrepreneur Elie Samaha in May from Warner Bros. and Viacom Inc., acknowledged that the theater has been holding more ceremonies — which are paid for by movie studios and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Some of the older prints are deteriorating, he said, and will have to be removed from the forecourt to be preserved. But he added that not all the new prints are getting prime real estate in front of the theater, so don't look for the Chipmunks or the Smurfs there. "They're not going in the forecourt. They weren't real ceremonies — they were mock ceremonies," said Kushner. Though he said he was still uncertain where the blocks would end up, he surmised that all of the "kids' stuff" would be displayed at the Chinese 6 theaters, located in the adjacent Hollywood & Highland mall complex and operated by Kushner and Samaha. Plans also are in the works to relight the forecourt and restore old theater signs to resemble their 1930s appearance.

The theater is also trying to entice movie studios to hold after-parties for their premieres in the lobby of the Chinese 6, hiding the concession stands with curtains and bringing in other decorative elements to transform it into what owners describe as a "ballroom." (Many premieres are already held at Grauman's, but the after-parties are typically staged at nearby restaurants or hotels.) Kushner also said he wants to broaden the range of individuals the theater pays tribute to in the forecourt to include athletes and musicians. He revealed that Grauman's is in preliminary talks with boxer Muhammad Ali and is also speaking with the family of Michael Jackson about a square that could use the imprints of a shoe and glove the pop star donned in some of his music videos. Currently, forecourt honorees are selected by a committee made up of the theater's executives who evaluate "the impact someone has had on cinematic history and how they have contributed to cinema today," said the cinema's director of operations, Alwyn Kushner, daughter of Donald Kushner.

Still, most of the ceremonies seem to be tied to the release of an honoree's new film — Rourke, for one, got his square less than two weeks before the November opening of "Immortals," a sword-and-sandals epic in which he starred. His tablet, along with Aniston's July imprint and a November block stamped by some "West Side Story" 1961 film cast members, have yet to be placed in the forecourt. "It has nothing to do with who is an authentic, for-the-ages star," said Richard Schickel, a film critic and movie historian. "That has deteriorated. It's obviously driven entirely by what is hot at this moment, publicity and money. I guess it's kinda nice, but it's not the ultimate accolade for a movie actor." Studios are willing to cough up the dough for the ceremonies — $25,000 for "cement and labor" directly to Grauman's, plus around $20,000 to cover costs of the ceremony, according to an executive familiar with the process who requested anonymity to preserve relations with the theater — because they feel the event carries strong promotional value.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Sunseeker Tours - Bus Tours - Group Tours - Sightseeing - Hollywood, Los Angeles Ports of LA/Long Beach and Harbor Bridges Grauman's Chinese Theater With pagodas, temple bells and stone Heaven Dogs imported from China, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was a wonder when it opened in 1927 – and this recently restored giant red pagoda with a huge green dragon remains so today. Millions of visitors have come to this Hollywood landmark to marvel at its architecture and décor, see a movie and explore the exterior Forecourt of the Stars, where almost 200 megastars have left their footprints for the enjoyment of their millions of fans. Look closely at the opening scenes of the 1952 Gene Kelly classic, Singing in the Rain, and you will see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. And do you remember the episode of I Love Lucy when Lucille Ball stole the cement block with John Wayne’s footprints from the Forecourt of the Stars? Though we will not go inside this legendary movie theatre, we stop to give you plenty of time to explore the stars’ footprints.

See if you can find: The titans of classic Hollywood – among them Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, and Sophia Loren Today’s mega stars – some of them are Richard Gere, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Nicolas Cage and the three young wizards from the Harry Potter movies Someone who left the imprint of a fist, and another who left an impression of her famous legs? Three horses, two cigars and a current top star’s hair? Three barefoot stars? Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante both made plenty of jokes about this prominent bit of anatomy – and both left impressions of their own at Grauman’s Forecourt. It’s not a hand or a foot – what is it? Do you know?* Who were the very first stars to leave their footprints in the Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre? Who has left the smallest footprint? (Hint—there are two; one an adult, the other a child star). And who has left the largest? In a recent movie, a gorilla climbs up the side of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Name the movie.

Jimmy Stewart's hand and footprints, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, California Jimmy Stewart's hand and footprints, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, California Date Created/Published: 2006 July 3. Medium: 1 photograph : digital, TIFF file, color. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-highsm-04040 (original digital file) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Call Number: LC-DIG-highsm- 04040 (ONLINE) [P&P] Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Notes: The grand opening of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on May 18, 1927, was the most spectacular theatre opening in motion picture history. Thousands of people lined Hollywood Boulevard and a riot broke out as fans tried to catch a glimpse of the movie stars and other celebrities as they arrived for the opening. The film being premiered that night was Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings,' which was preceded by "Glories of the Scriptures," a live prologue devised by master showman Sid Grauman.

A Wurlitzer organ and 65-piece orchestra provided music for the prologue. The theatre opened to the public the following day, May 19, 1927. Protected by its 40-foot high curved walls and copper- topped turrets, the theatre's legendary forecourt serves as an oasis to the stars of yesterday and today. Ten-foot tall lotus-shaped fountains and intricate artistry flank the footprints of some of Hollywood's most elite and welcome its visitors into the magical world of fantasy and whim known as Hollywood. Title, date, and subjects provided by the photographer. Credit line: Carol M. Highsmith's America, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Gift and purchase; Carol M. Highsmith; 2009; (DLC/PP-2010:031). Forms part of: Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive. Subjects: Part of: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946- Carol M. Highsmith Archive. Bookmark This Record: View the MARC Record for this item. Rights assessment is your responsibility.

The Library of Congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. For further rights information, see "Rights Information" below and the Rights and Restrictions Information page ( ). Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-highsm-04040 (original digital file) Call Number: LC-DIG-highsm- 04040 (ONLINE) [P&P] Medium: 1 photograph : digital, TIFF file, color. Rights assessment is your responsibility. Some images in this collection are described in groups; others are described individually. In some cases, all of the images in the group display online, in other cases they do not. You can download online images yourself. Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types. Determine whether the desired materials can be retrieved online. Look in the Medium field above to determine whether the description is for one photograph or more than one. If the description is for a single item and it is displaying, you can download or purchase a print. Cite the number that begins with "LC-DIG..." when purchasing copies through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

If the description is for more than one item and there is a "Click for more images" icon displaying, select that. Individual images will display; you can download or purchase prints. Cite the number that begins with "LC-DIG..." when purchasing copies through Library of Congress Duplication Services. If the description is for more than one item and there is no "Click for more images" icon displaying, return to the "About this Item" tab and select the "Check for online items from this group" link. Then select the "Obtaining Copies" tab for any retrieved items that are of interest. If the images do not display online -- Select images for reproduction through one of these methods: Visit the Prints & Photographs Reading Room and request to view the group (general information about service in the reading room is available at: ). P&P reading room staff can provide up to 15 photocopies of items per calendar year. (Color images cannot be photocopied.) For assistance, see our Ask a Librarian page. OR Hire a freelance researcher to do further selection for you (a list of researchers is available at: ). Purchasing Copies Library of Congress Duplication Services can make copies of various types from images in Prints & Photographs Division Collections.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site . Carol M. Highsmith sells prints of her photographs at: . Call Number: LC-DIG-highsm- 04040 (ONLINE) [P&P] Medium: 1 photograph : digital, TIFF file, color. Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.) Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions. As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available.

If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.) No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints? Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate. No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Question: In the forecourt of which Los Angeles theatre would you see the hand and footprints of famous film stars?
Answer: Grauman's Chinese Theatre